Iokhim, A. N. Peculiarities of the Creation of the External Political Discourse (The Case Study of Russia’s Policy in 2008 – 2010)

Abstract: The article is devoted to the analysis of the discourse of external policy of Russia in 2008 – 2010. Such a period has been chosen on purpose. In 2008 a new head of Russia and the Russian government was elected. Based on the example of conceptual changes in the ‘language of power’ during the fi rst half of Dmitry Medvedev’s presidential term, the author describes discursive technologies of succession and transformation of the orientation of the country’s policy. The discursive approach to politics allows to reveal the semiotic potential of the political language in relation to construction of the socio-political reality. By interpreting the key concepts and using particular strategies in the discursive practice, the discourse creates a collective identity and has an impact on the global agenda. As the research methodology the author has used instruments of the critical discourse analysis and multi-parameter modeling of the political discourse offered by E. Kozhemyakin and E. Pereverzev. The results of the analysis allow to defi ne the key strategies of the orientation of the Russian external political discourse. These strategies are expressed in using techniques of the positive self-representation and a negative image of the Other as well as dominating stereotypes based on the ‘Us’/ ‘Them’ dichotomy. Based on his research the author makes a conclusion that the repeated articulation of the main concepts in the Russian external rhetoric of 2008 – 2010 allowed to guarantee the succession and continuity of the orientation of political policy.

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